Blaine sets breath-holding record

CHICAGO, May 1 (UPI) -- Magician David Blaine set a world record for breath holding, 17 minutes and 4.4 seconds, during an appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in Chicago.

Blaine, 35, broke the previous Guinness World Record of 16 minutes and 32 seconds, set in February of this year by Peter Colat of Switzerland, the New York Post reported Thursday.

"I feel happy ... a lifelong dream," Blaine told Oprah after emerging from the water-filled sphere. "I can't believe I did that."

The magician said his target is the world record for sleep deprivation, which currently stands at 11 1/2 days.